Improvement in mats



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Letters Patent No. 108,160,11111011 october 11, 1870.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern.- l

Be it known that I, SAMUEL Lewis, of Williamsburg, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Mats or Flexible Racks for Car-Floors, &c.'; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the acconniianying drawing forming part ot' this specification. The figure is a top view of' a portion oi' my improved mat, parts being broken away to show the construction.

My invention has for its object to furnish animproved mat or flexible rack, designed especially for Aapplication to street-car oorsrand other similar purposes, which shall beso constructed that it maybe readily rolled up for Ytransportation or storage, or to remove .it from its` place for sweepingland cleansing purposes; andv It consists in the mat or rack constructed as hereinafter more fully described.

A are the cross-slats of the' mat or rack, the llength o t'wvliich must depend upon the breadth o'f the carloor, passage, or other place where the mat or rack is to be used. The slats A have holes formed through them, through which are passed the wire cords B, upon -which the said bars are'strung.

Two or more wire vcords B may be used, according to the length of the slats A.

The slats A are kept at the proper distance apart, and in their proper relative positions, by rubber blocks or short rubber tubes, C, placed upon the wire cords B, between Ithe said slats A, as shown in iig. 1.

The rubber blocks C not only. keep the slats A in their proper relative positions, but, by their elasticity,

they increase the flexibility ofthe mat or rack.

When the mat or rack is bent or rolled,`the rubber blocks C are compressed upon one side, and expand upon the other, so as to keep the slats A firmly in place, however closely or loosely the mat may be rolled, while, at the same time, making it very flexible, so that it may be rolled freely.

The ends ofthe wire cords that project at the outer sides of the outer slats A may be uutwisted, and brushed or bent, and secured in place, by a drop ot solder, a small metallic washer being used, if desired. Or the ends of the wires may be secured in any other convenient manner.

This construction gives great flexibility to the mat, so that it can be closely rolled without injury, and, at the same time, gives it great firmness when extended for nse, keepiug the slats A always in their proper relative positions.

Another1 advantage of this mat is, that, when one side has become worn, it may be turned over, it being im material which side Vis up.

By this construction, should one or more of the slats N be accidentally broken, the expansion of the` rubber block O'will be 'suiieientto take up the slack and keep th'e other slats securely in place.

Having thus described my invention,

I claim' as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-A I An improved matoriexible rack, formed by stringing the wooden slats A upon wire cords B,Arubber blocks C being strung upon the saidavire cords, .and interposed between the said slats, substantially as herein shown and described.

` SAMU EL LEWIS.

Witnesses:

GEO. W. MABEE, J AMES T. GRAHAM. 

